Steel cabinet and locker

ABSTRACT

A storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section with a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge and a second sidewall is attached the second side edge. A top wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and rear wall at upper ends thereof. A bottom wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and rear wall at bottom ends thereof. At least two of the first section, the second section, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the first door and the second door have a uniform size and shape. A plurality of attachment structures interconnect the first and second sections, the first and second sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first door and the second door without the use of tools.

BACKGROUND

Storage units such as cabinets or lockers are used for many different purposes and can be used to store a variety of items. These cabinets come in many different sizes and shapes to accommodate different sized and shaped items.

Storage cabinets, such as metal cabinets and lockers, may be sold and shipped preassembled or disassembled. Preassembled cabinets require little or no assembly and can be moved directly from a shipping vehicle to a desired location. However, these cabinets take up more space in the shipping vehicle and may be more difficult and cumbersome to move depending on the size and shape of the preassembled cabinet. Disassembled cabinets can be condensed into smaller shipping packages than the preassembled cabinets. The disassembled cabinets therefore take up less space on a shipping vehicle so that more disassembled cabinets can be shipped per vehicle than preassembled cabinets. Furthermore, disassembled cabinets are generally easier to move than the preassembled cabinets. Disassembled cabinets require assembly after they have been shipped which could take a significant amount of time. Also, disassembled cabinets include separate parts, such as screws, bolts and nuts, which can be easily lost or misplaced during assembly of the cabinets. In such a case, the cabinets cannot be put together and must be returned to the shipper as damaged or defective goods. This adds to the costs of these types of cabinets. Additionally, tools are needed to fasten or tighten the fasteners. This increases the time and effort used to assemble the cabinets, especially if such tools are not readily available.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved cabinets and lockers which significantly decrease assembly time and decrease the costs associated with shipping and assembling storage cabinets.

SUMMARY

The application is directed to cabinets and more specifically, to a storage cabinet which is assembled without threaded or permanent connectors or other connectors which would require the use of tools, to enable the cabinet to be easily shipped and assembled by an end user.

An embodiment provides a storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section having a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge of the rear wall; and a second sidewall is attached the second side edge of the rear wall. A top wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at upper ends thereof. A bottom wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at bottom ends thereof. A first door is pivotably attached the first sidewall and a second door is pivotably attached to the second sidewall. The first and second doors each being movable between an open position and a closed position. At least two of the first section, the second section, the first sidewall, the second sidewall, the first door and the second door having a uniform size and shape. A plurality of attachment structures separably interconnecting the first and second sections, the first and second sidewalls, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first door and the second door without the use of tools.

In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a tab on at least one of the first and second sections and a recess on the other of the first and second sections for receiving the tab. The first section and second section are attached together by inserting the tab into the recess to secure the first and second sections together.

In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to be locked in the closed position.

In an embodiment, the lock assembly includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the handle on the inside surface of the door, each of the lock members includes an end which is insertable into a corresponding opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall.

In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together.

In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together.

In an embodiment, the storage cabinet includes a plurality of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, where at least one of the first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and where the post is insertable into the opening.

Another embodiment provides a storage cabinet including a rear wall having a first section having a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge. One of the first and second sections includes at least one tab and the other of the first and second sections includes at least one recess. The tab is adapted to engage the recess to join the first and second sections together. A first sidewall is attached to the first side edge of the rear wall and a second sidewall is attached to the second side edge of the rear wall. A top wall is attached the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at upper ends thereof and a bottom wall is attached to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall at bottom ends thereof. An adjustable shelf is removably connected to the first and second sidewalls and the rear wall. A first door is pivotably connected to the first sidewall and a second door is pivotably connected to the second sidewall and positioned adjacent to the first door, where the first and second doors each pivot from an open position to a closed position. At least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly and at least one of the first and second doors includes a handle pull.

In an embodiment, at least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to be locked in position.

In an embodiment, the lock assembly includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the handle, where an end of each of the lock members engages an opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall.

In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together.

In an embodiment, the attachment structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together.

In an embodiment, the storage cabinet includes a plurality of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, where at least one of the first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and where the post is insertable into the opening.

In an embodiment, the handle pull extends from the top of the first or second door to the bottom of the first or second door.

in an embodiment, the handle pull extends from a point beneath the top of the first or second door to a point above the bottom of the first or second door.

Accordingly, an advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be easily assembled and disassembled.

Another advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be assembled without using connectors.

A further advantage is to provide a cabinet that can be shipped as separate components to save shipping space and easily assembled by an end user.

Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the storage cabinet where the storage cabinet includes two doors.

FIG. 2 is a reduced, exploded perspective view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a reduced, partially exploded perspective view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1 where one of the doors is detached.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front perspective view of a tab of one wall section engaged with a recess of another wall section forming the rear wall of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial top perspective view of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1 showing the joined flanges of one of the side walls and the rear wall.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an embodiment of a shelf clip used to support a shelf positioned in the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial perspective view of one of the door pins that secures the ends of the first and second doors of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a partial front perspective view of the lock assembly attached to one of the first and second doors of the storage cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial perspective view of a key inserted into the lock assembly of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of the storage cabinet.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of the storage cabinet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-9, a storage cabinet of the present invention is illustrated where the cabinet 100 includes a bottom wall 102, side walls 104, a rear wall 106, and a top wall 108. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom wall 102, the side walls 104, the wall sections 107 of the rear wall 106 and the top wall 108, all generally have the same width. This enables these parts of the cabinet to be easily manufactured and packaged for shipping. Specifically, the rear wall 106 is made up of two wall sections 107. One of the sections includes tabs 103 and the other section includes recesses 105 for receiving the tabs. The wall sections 107 are joined together by inserting the tabs 103 into the corresponding recesses 105, as shown in FIG. 4, between the wall sections to secure the wall sections together and form the rear wall 106. Once the rear wall 106 is formed, one of the side walls 104 is attached to a side edge of the rear wall 106 and the other side wall attaches to the opposing side edge of the rear wall 106. Specifically, the side walls 104 engage the rear wall 106 by engaging u-shaped flange 204 with a corresponding L-shaped flange 205 on the rear wall 106 as shown in FIG. 5. Similarly, the opposing side wall 104 is attached to the opposing side edge of the rear wall 106 in a similar manner. The joining of the wall sections 107 to form the rear wall 106 and the joining of the side walls 104 with the rear wall 106 do not require separate connectors, such as screw-type connectors. This enables the rear wall and side walls to be quickly and easily joined together without the need for tools or other devices and without separate connecting pieces to keep track of.

The top wall 108 fits over the side walls 104 and rear wall 106 to frictionally attach the top wall to the side walls 104 and rear wall 106. Specifically, depending flanges 206 and 208 of the top wall 108 (see FIG. 2) frictionally engage the top edges of the side walls and rear wall.

Similarly, the bottom wall 102 is attached to the lower or bottom edges of the side walls 104 and rear wall 106 by inserting the bottom wall 102 into channels 209 formed on each of the side walls 104 and rear wall 106. The channels 209 hold the bottom wall 102 in position.

After the bottom wall 102, side walls 104, rear wall 106 and top wall 108, are assembled, a u-shaped support or bracket 110 is attached to the front end of the locker as shown in FIG. 2. The u-shaped bracket 110 is secured in place by using non-screw type push pins 111. The push pins 111 are inserted into corresponding holes 112 on the u-shaped bracket 110 and bottom portions of the side walls 104 as shown in FIG. 2, using a friction fit. Once the u-shaped bracket 110 is secured in place, a face plate 114 is attached to the bracket 110. The front face plate 114 may be held onto the bracket by using a friction fit or by using a combination of a friction fit and push pins 111, which are inserted through corresponding holes formed in the top of the face plate 114 and the u-shaped bracket 110. The main, central or storage portion of the cabinet 100 is now assembled.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 100 includes two doors 116 and more specifically, a left door 116 a and a right door 116 b. The left door 116 a includes two pin assemblies 117 each including a door bracket 118 attached to the inside of the door respectively at the top end and at the bottom end. Each bracket 118 defines a hole 120 for receiving a L-shaped pin 122, as described below. Additionally, the top and bottom edges of the doors 112 define openings for receiving the L-shaped pins 122. Specifically, an L-shaped pin 122 is inserted upwardly through the opening in the bracket 118 and through the top of the door and into a corresponding opening 124 defined by the top wall 108. The pin 122 is held in place by a curved support member 121 of the bracket. The bottom of the door also defines a hole 121 in the bottom wall of the cabinet. The lower L-shaped pin 122 is inserted through the opening 120 in the door bracket 118, through the bottom of the door 116 and into the opening or hole 124 defined by the bottom wall of the cabinet. As should be noted, the pins 122 do not require any type of fasteners or connectors to hold them in place nor do they require the use of tools, which makes inserting and/or removing the pins and/or the doors very quick and easy for a user. The pins also establish a pivot point on the top and bottom edges of each door which enables the doors 116 a and 116 b to pivot between a primarily open position to a closed position that closes the front of the cabinet 100. The other door 116 b is inserted and attached to the cabinet in the same manner.

One or both cabinet doors 116 a and 116 b include a handle pull or handle 126, which can be separately made and connected to one or both doors, or pre-made and preassembled on the doors 116. As shown in FIG. 1, the handle pull 126 extends the length of each door (i.e., from the bottom to the top of each door). It should be appreciated that the handle pull may extend from the top of the door to an intermediate point between the top and bottoms of the doors, extend from the bottom of the door to a point intermediate to the top and bottoms of the doors, or be limited to some intermediate portion of the door. It should also be appreciated that one door or both doors may include a handle pull 126. It should further be appreciated that the doors may have a handle pull, a door knob or any other suitable door handle. The door pull provides a gripping surface for a user's hand that enables the user to move the door between a substantially open position and a closed position.

In the illustrated embodiment, at least one of the doors 116 and, more specifically, door 116 b includes a lock assembly 216. The lock assembly 216 includes a handle (not shown) on a front surface of the door 116 b, lock members 220 which extend along the rear surface of the door from the top of the door to the bottom of the door, and a lock rotator 222 attached to the back of the handle. The top lock member 220 a and bottom lock 220 b member are elongated rods that are attached to the lock rotator 222. One end of the top lock member 220 a is attached to the lock rotator 222 and an opposite end is insertable into an opening defined by the top member. Similarly, one end of the bottom lock member 220 b is attached to the lock rotator 222 and the opposite end is insertable into an opening defined by the bottom member. When the handle is rotated in a clockwise direction, the top lock member 220 a moves downwardly and the bottom lock member 220 b moves upwardly to respectively release or disengage the ends of the top and bottom lock members 220 a and 220 b from the openings. When the lock rotator 222 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, the top lock member 220 a moves upward and the bottom lock member 220 b moves downward to respectively cause the ends of the top and bottom lock members 220 a and 220 b to be at least partially inserted into the openings.

Specifically, when door 116 b is in a closed position, a user turns or rotates the handle or key 128 in a clockwise direction to cause the ends of the top and bottom lock members 220 a, 220 b to be respectively inserted into openings on the top and bottom walls 108 and 102. After the ends of the bottom and top lock members 102 108 are inserted into the openings on the top and bottom wall, the door 220 b is secured in the closed position and cannot be moved outwardly away from the cabinet. In an embodiment, the handle includes a lock which enables a user to insert a key 226 or similar device into the lock to secure or lock the handle and prevent the door or doors 116 from being opened.

In the illustrated embodiment, the left door 116 a (i.e., the door without the lock assembly 216) is closed first. The right door 116 b or the door including the lock assembly 216, includes the handle pull 126 which extends outwardly over at least a portion of the first door 116 a when the doors are in the closed position. This helps hold both doors in place and enables the user to lock the lock assembly 216 to secure the doors 116 in place.

In the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 100 includes at least one shelf 130 (FIG. 3) which is adjustable to different heights or positions within the cabinet. For example in the illustrated embodiment, the cabinet 100 includes a plurality of shelves 130 which are positioned at different heights within the cabinet. The shelves 130 are all the same size and shape. It should be appreciated that the shelves may be any suitable size or shape. To install or insert a shelf 130 in the cabinet, four shelf clips 210 are positioned or inserted in corresponding holes 211 in the cabinet. Specifically, one shelf clip 210 is inserted in holes 211 at the same height on one side of the cabinet and then two other shelf clips are inserted at the same height on the opposing side of the cabinet. The shelf 130 is then positioned or laid upon the inserted shelf clips 210 to hold the shelf at that height or position. In an embodiment, each shelf clip 210 includes an opening or hole 212 which enables a push pin 111 to be inserted through the shelf clip 210 and into the shelf 130 to secure the shelf in place and prevent the shelf from moving with respect to the shelf clips 210. Alternatively, flanges (not shown) may be preassembled on the inside surfaces of the sidewalls 104 at a predetermined height to enable the shelf 130 to be placed upon the flanges for support on each side wall. It should be appreciated that the flanges could be formed at any suitable height or position for supporting one or more shelves in the cabinet. It will be appreciated that the tabs 103, the recesses 105, flanges 204-206 and 208, channels 209, push pins 111, pin assemblies 117 and shelf clips 210 are different types of attachment structures which do not require the use of tools.

Referring to FIG. 10, in an alternative embodiment, a storage cabinet, such as a single door locker 300 (i.e., a school locker), is preassembled without using screw-type fasteners. Each locker 300 has a bottom wall 302, a pair of side walls 304 and a top wall 306 which are joined together as described above to form the main portion of the locker. A shelf or shelves (similar to shelf 130) may be inserted and secured in the locker 300 as described above. Additionally, at least one door 308 is attached to the locker as described above using the L-shaped pins 122. The locker door 308 moves or pivots from a substantially open position to a closed position. The locker 300 may include a lock assembly 310 which enables a user to lock the door in the closed position. It should be appreciated that the locker may be any suitable size and shape.

In another alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 11, a divided version of the single locker described above is shown where the divided locker 400 is divided to have two separate storage compartments and two separate doors 408 a and 408 b. The locker 400 includes a bottom wall 402, side walls 404 and a top wall 406. The divided lockers individually have less storage space. However, more lockers can be installed at a location using the divided locker 400 such as at busy locations (i.e., malls). The locker 400 thereby efficiently uses the space at a particular location.

In the above embodiments, the components of the cabinets are made of metal and more preferably of a steel, such as stainless steel. Steel provides strength and rigidity to the cabinets to ensure that the cabinets will last for a long period of time. It should be appreciated that other suitable material or materials may be used to form the cabinets.

Although the above embodiments show cabinets of a particular size and shape, it should be appreciated that the cabinets may be manufactured to be any suitable size and shape. The above cabinets enable users to easily and quickly assemble the cabinets and lockers and thereby save significant time and money during assembly. The cabinets also maximize shipping space as they are shipped in broken down manageable parts which can be efficiently stacked in a shipping vehicle and then easily assembled by an end user.

The embodiments set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the broader aspects of applicants' contribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art. 

1. A storage cabinet comprising: a rear wall including a first section having a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge; a first sidewall attached to the first side edge of said rear wall; a second sidewall attached the second side edge of said rear wall; a top wall attached to said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall at upper ends thereof; a bottom wall attached to said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall at bottom ends thereof; a first door pivotably attached said first sidewall; and a second door pivotably attached to said second sidewall, said first and second doors each being movable between an open position and a closed position; at least two of said first section, said second section, said first sidewall, said second sidewall, said first door and said second door having a uniform size and shape; and a plurality of attachment structures separably interconnecting said first and second sections, said first and second sidewalls, said top wall, said bottom wall, said first door and said second door without the use of tools.
 2. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein the attachment structures include a tab on at least one of the first and second sections and a recess on the other of said first and second sections for receiving the tab, and wherein the first section and second section are attached together by inserting said tab into said recess to secure the first and second sections together.
 3. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables the first or second door to be locked in the closed position.
 4. The storage cabinet of claim 3, wherein the lock assembly includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the handle on the inside surface of the door, each of the lock members includes an end which is insertable into a corresponding opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall.
 5. The storage cabinet of claim 1, wherein the attachment structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together.
 6. The storage cabinet of claim 5, wherein the attachment structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together.
 7. The storage cabinet of claim 1, which includes a plurality of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, wherein at least one of said first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and wherein the post is insertable into the opening.
 8. A storage cabinet comprising: a rear wall including a first section having a first side edge and a second section attached to the first section and having a second side edge, one of said first and second sections including at least one tab and said other of said first and second sections including at least one recess, said tab being adapted to engage said recess to join said first and second sections together; a first sidewall attached to the first side edge of said rear wall; a second sidewall attached to the second side edge of said rear wall; a top wall attached said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall at upper ends thereof; a bottom wall attached to said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall at bottom ends thereof; an adjustable shelf removably connected to said first and second sidewalls and said rear wall; a first door pivotably connected to said first sidewall; a second door pivotably connected to said second sidewall and positioned adjacent to said first door, wherein said first and second doors each pivot from an open position to a closed position; at least one of said first and second doors including a lock assembly; and at least one of said first and second doors including a handle pull.
 9. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein at least one of the first and second doors includes a lock assembly that enables said first or second door to be locked in position.
 10. The storage cabinet of claim 9, wherein the lock assembly includes a handle and a pair of lock members extending from the handle, wherein an end of each of the lock members engages an opening defined by the top wall and the bottom wall.
 11. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein the attachment structures include a flange on the first sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the first sidewall to secure the first sidewall and the rear wall together.
 12. The storage cabinet of claim 11, wherein the attachment structures include a flange on the second sidewall and a flange on the rear wall engageable with the flange on the second sidewall to secure the second sidewall and the rear wall together.
 13. The storage cabinet of claim 8, which includes a plurality of shelf clips, each having a post extending from a base, wherein at least one of said first and second sidewalls defines an opening, and wherein the post is insertable into the opening.
 14. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein said handle pull extends from the top of said first or second door to the bottom of said first or second door.
 15. The storage cabinet of claim 8, wherein said handle pull extends from a point beneath the top of said first or second door to a point above the bottom of said first or second door. 